January 2021 News From Fairway Green

Summer Crabgrass Control Starts Now

Fairway Green and many other turf care managers will start their first application of pre-emergent Crabgrass control this month through early March. Crabgrass Germination will usually start when soil temperatures are about 53 degrees and 2 to 4 inches deep, which is late March or early April throughout the Transitional Zone.

Crabgrass germination will be seen first in bare spots with little desirable turf and in full sun. The first application must be completed before Crabgrass starts to germinate, and it is always best to control Crabgrass before it germinates. Controlling it once it matures is often very difficult.  

Fairway Green utilizes a split three application pre-emergent process on cool season turf to offer the best summer Crabgrass control possible. This process is used based on local research from NC State University. 

Pre-emergent control starts to break down around mid-July. The pre-emergent breaks down so fescue seeding can start around the end of August. Early Crabgrass breakthrough, after proper pre-emergent applications, can be contributed to low mowing heights, thin areas in the lawn, and aggressive edging along sidewalks and driveways. 

Here is what Dr. Fred Yelverton from Turf Files has to say about the timing of Summer Crabgrass control:

“From previous research, we know that crabgrass germinates with 24-hour mean soil temperatures average about 53-55 degrees at a 2 to 4 inch depth for several consecutive days. Because the climate in NC is quite varied (ski resorts in western NC and palm trees in eastern NC), the actual date of the critical soil temperature varies significantly. Traditionally, in the southeastern part of the state, we know that PRE herbicides should be applied and watered in by about March 1, in the Piedmont about March 15, and in western NC about early April (depending on the elevation). Based on observations of crabgrass emergence and data from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), my recommendation for 2020 is for turfgrass managers to apply PRE herbicides two weeks earlier than previous recommendations. Why the change? In 2 of the last 3 years, I have found crabgrass emergence in late February (see photo). In the previous 30 years of my career, I have never seen crabgrass emergence in February. Furthermore, NOAA climate data show that in 2019, the average temperature in NC was the warmest on record. The average temperature in NC in 2019 was 61.2 degrees. That is 2.7 degrees above the average from 1901-2000. This makes the average NC temperature the highest ever recorded. 

Is there a penalty for applying PRE herbicides too early? The answer is: not much. PRE herbicides are degraded (primarily) by soil microorganisms. When soil temperatures are in the 40s and 50s, microorganism activity in soil is low. Therefore, minimum degradation of PRE herbicides occur when applied in January and February.”

Winter Annual Weeds

Winter annual weeds can be prolific this time of year. These weeds germinate in the fall, grow through the winter months, and reproduce in the spring. The most appropriate time to treat these weeds is when they are young and actively growing since they become difficult to control once they start to flower. 

Broadleaf weed control could be difficult this spring due to many Fescue lawns being thin and not completely tillered. Tiller simply means the fescue plant adds additional leaf blades thickening the plant and increasing the ability to compete against broadleaf weeds. 

Research has proven that maintaining a mowing height of 3½” – 4” on fescue drastically reduces the amount of crabgrass in the lawn. Mowing at this height will also help promote healthy turf and help control broadleaf weeds.

Deep Root Fertilization for Ornamental Trees & Shrubs

This is the time of year that Fairway Green starts deep root fertilization on ornamental trees and shrubs. This specialty fertilizer is applied at a rate to feed the plant for the entire growing season. Typically, this product will not create flush heavy growth. This product is more of a vitamin for the plant adding in plant health, which can be especially helpful during times of stress or poor soil conditions.  

Mole and Voles

Mole and vole signs tend to increase this time of year because the soil is more moist, making it easier for the moles and voles to move around. 

Mole control can be frustrating and time consuming. Many people believe that a grub treatment will rid their lawn of moles. This is usually ineffective because moles feed heavily on earthworms and other insects. There are chemical options registered to control Moles in North Carolina now. The two products that people have had success with are Tomcat Mole Killer and Motomoco Mole Killer. These products are available in home & garden centers like Home Depot and Lowes (don’t forget to patron local hardware or nursery stores). A very good website for additional information on Moles and Voles is The Mole Man.

Fairway Green does not offer a mole control service at this time.

Turf Desiccation

Is your Fescue looking a little tan or yellow?

Fescue turf may have received desiccation of the leaf tissue during the winter months (a yellow or brownish color on the leaf blade). Frost damage causes the tips of the blade to turn yellow, giving the lawn an overall yellow color. This is caused when the moisture in the grass blades freezes and ruptures the cells at the tip of the blades. This will grow out as spring arrives and temperatures become more favorable for Fescue growth. An increase in temperatures along with the early spring application will help the plant recover and flourish.

Email Notifications

As of June 2020, Fairway Green implemented an After Service Notice/Invoice email system.

This is part of our continued effort to improve and deliver the best service possible. This email will be your invoice and has a hyperlink to your Customer Portal where you can review and pay for service, view past services, request additional services or estimates, and ask questions.   

To ensure you receive these emails, and monthly communications from us, please remember to add Fairway Green to your safe sender list.